In 2000, there were only 18 private healthcare facilities, with a capacity for 306 beds. By last year, however, Bulgaria had 71 new private hospitals and 3110 beds, Dnevnik daily reported.

Despite the still rough-around-the-edges system of providing medical insurance to Bulgarians, new hospitals and medical centres have began appearing in most large cities. By the end of the year, another 80 will open to patients.

Field professionals explain this hospital construction growth with the long-delayed privatisation of the health sector. Hence businesses wishing to invest in the niche were not legally assisted in buying and renovating existing facilities, but rather embarked on construction.

At the end of July, Bourgas city hall announced that it was searching for a construction company to build a modern hospital in Meden Rudnik, one of the city's most populated boroughs. Currently, local patients are served only by one clinic occupying a flat in a communal block.

The new multi-profiled healthcare facility will have capacity for 200 beds and will be equipped with a NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy, a modern-day scanner, an agiograph (a device for measuring eye pressure) and a fertility office. The total investment is estimated at 35 million euro, as the built-up land plot will be provided by the municipality.

Physicians interviewed by Dnevnik daily supported the idea of further development of private investments in hospitals, noting that in most European Union countries they account for 30 per cent of all hospitals. In France, for example, close to 60 per cent of bed capacity falls within the private sector, while in Germany the percentage runs between 45 and 50. In Bulgaria, it is no higher than four per cent.

Construction of another hospital in the Bourgas region began on July 30. It is said to be the largest multi-functional hospital along the Black Sea coast, only 10km from Bourgas in the village of Vetren. An investment of Sveta Sofia Building EAD, the hospital is scheduled to admit its first patients next summer.

Spread on a total built-up area of 3500 sq m, the building will have five storeys, seven wards and 110 beds. Priority has been given to the OBGYN ward, equipped with a yoga hall for pregnant women.

A section of the building will house an oncological ward. Luxury flats with TV, internet connection and minibar will also be available for comfort. The hospital, designed by architect Dimitar Georgiev, will employ 200 professionals. According to Dnevnik daily, two surgeons on staff have been sent to France to undergo additional training.

Some managers of state hospitals have commented that employee turnover has been significant, meaning that most professionals have chosen to work in private hospitals offering higher salaries.

Pleven has seen a proliferation of specialised clinics, perhaps explained by the local medical university that supplies young professionals. Last year, Avis Medica hospital was opened, together with a surgical clinic, along with a new orthopedic and eye clinic.

Dnevnik daily reported that within the Plovdiv district nine private hospitals operate and another one is pending in Vustanicheski-yug borough. An investment of Vedado Property EAD, the Karidad hospital will feature a diagnostics sector, an operating theatre, internal medicine, physiotherapy and rehabilitation centre, several laboratories and a pharmacy.

Plans for building a 350-bed hospital in Blagoevgrad were also announced last week by two Israeli businessmen, who intend to invest 50 million euro.